An small aircraft spi needed a flight assist from rdu tower account lost under an overcast.

Attributes
ACN	245345
Time
Date	199306
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rdu airport : 00nc
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 50 flight time type : 26
ASRS Report	245345
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying along in an small aircraft over selma at 3500 ft MSL when I met a layer of clouds. I decided to fly above them. About 10 mins after I had climbed above the layer of scattered clouds, they began to thicken. I found a hole in the clouds and descended through it. Once under the clouds they were lower than I had expected, and the conditions worsened. I was now at 1000 ft MSL and lost. I tried to use the VOR at raleigh, but I was too low and far to pick it up. I called rdu tower on the radio asking them for help. I squawked a number but they only picked me up a couple of times. I got directions from rdu and landed safely at 00NC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA SPI NEEDED A FLT ASSIST FROM RDU TWR ACCOUNT LOST UNDER AN OVCST.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING ALONG IN AN SMA OVER SELMA AT 3500 FT MSL WHEN I MET A LAYER OF CLOUDS. I DECIDED TO FLY ABOVE THEM. ABOUT 10 MINS AFTER I HAD CLBED ABOVE THE LAYER OF SCATTERED CLOUDS, THEY BEGAN TO THICKEN. I FOUND A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS AND DSNDED THROUGH IT. ONCE UNDER THE CLOUDS THEY WERE LOWER THAN I HAD EXPECTED, AND THE CONDITIONS WORSENED. I WAS NOW AT 1000 FT MSL AND LOST. I TRIED TO USE THE VOR AT RALEIGH, BUT I WAS TOO LOW AND FAR TO PICK IT UP. I CALLED RDU TWR ON THE RADIO ASKING THEM FOR HELP. I SQUAWKED A NUMBER BUT THEY ONLY PICKED ME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES. I GOT DIRECTIONS FROM RDU AND LANDED SAFELY AT 00NC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.